"Nine University of Utah graduating seniors and former staff members of the Daily Utah Chronicle received an e-mail alerting them that there has been a hold placed on their records after a traditional newspaper staff farewell gag caught the attention of administrators. Editors at the paper, as they have for at least a decade, arranged for the drop-cap letters in a series of farewell columns to spell out [sex organs]."
The nine students were allegedly told that their actions violated the University's Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities, basically, a watered down honor code. Spelling out inappropriate words in the last edition of the paper has been an annual tradition; although this is the first time writers for the Chronicle could face consequences for the prank.
"I'm kind of flabbergasted," outgoing editor in chief, Rachel Hanson said. "I don't think they've done this to the Chronicle before. This is a new, extreme step they've taken. I don't know if they intend to scare us ... or really keep us from graduating."
